The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-06-16

sorrow or JOY of the imaginary char
acter. My dolls were grand ladies
and gentlemen acting out life drama,
and the arms of an old sofa in my
mothers room were the horses from
which many OF my doll ladies were
thrown, to be gallantly rescued by the
hero"
"When did you come to this coun
try, Mrs. Burnett2"
my father died when L was nine,
and soon afterward my mother met
with reverses, and at the solicitation
of my uncle, a wealthy manufacturer,
she came to this country with her chill
dren. There were five Of us, two
brothers and three sisters. Uncle had
agreed to take the two boys into his
employ, but it was war times and he
became embarrassed, and mother de-
cided to go on farm near Knoxville,
Tenn, where the boys could work.
We grew poorer, and my sisters often
urged me to send my stories to pub
Usher. l had written many and they
thought them good"
"And you did send them?"
"Not at once the question Of post
age was serious one, and that had to
be settled. My brothers ridiculed my
literary productions and on many oc-
casions, to tease me, would pretend to
have found my manuscripts, and would
quote most ridiculous things which
they said were extracts from new
book about to be published by Frances
Hodgson.
"When it was settled between my
sisters and myself that story was to
be sent off, was determined that my
brothers should not know of it. One
of my sisters helped me to gather wild
grapes, which little colored girl sold
for us in the town, and with the money
thus earned | bought stamps"
was astonished to hear such con-
fession from her own lips. l could but
contrast in my mind the elegant look
ing woman in her picturesque gala
costume, with the young English girl
who gathered wild grapes in East Ten
nessee for means to buy few postage
stamps, but l only said "Where did
you send your first manuscript?
"To BaHou's Magazine, the editor
of which wrote me most hatterlng
note Offering to publish, but saying
that he thought it hardly good enough
to pay for, but thought differently
and asked for the return of my story
And then2"
alt went to Godey's, let me see that
was in 1S67-and | received a letter
in reply to mine asking if it were orig
inal3 The question was asked, said
the editor, because it was story OF
English manufacturing life and came
from East Tennessee. l answered that
of course it was original, and then he
asked me to send him another, prob
ably to test the truth of my answer.
They were both accepted and l receiv-
ed check for s35 for the two. This
sum was quite satisfactory and seemed
very large to me, assure you.
How old were you then ? y
al was fourteen"
Had you any difficulty after that
in selling manuscripts ?"
"No, and | have always received
liberal remuneration for my stories. y
"What is your method OF writing?"
al hardly know how to answer you.
think Of my story, and then | am
eager to write it out. When l begin
it is easy to tell it. l write rapidly
and steadily. Usually have writer
from 9 to 1 o'clock, but my i'll health
has caused me to be less methodica
than formerly"
"And which of your books do 20,
like the best?"
i "Oh, l like special characters il
each OF them perhaps care more fol
sHaworths,' but" she added, with
charming smile, "none of my book
can ever be SO dear as Lord Faunt
leroy" saying which she rose ant
!, took a photograph from the table
/ which she handed me to see. 1t wa
| little Lord Fauntleroy himself, he
Youngest son, a lovely child, who's
t face and dress are accurately copied il
the pictuHs of Lord Fauntleroy, an,
whose character is said to much re
: semble the young hero.
| Mrs. Burnett was married to Dr.
. Burnett, a young physician of Knox
, vile, Tenn, in 1873, and soon after
| ward they went abroad, wnere h
| studied his speciality. 1t is said tina
| her writings supported them in thos
: years. DR.. Burnett is now a success
r full oculist. They have two sons. Mr.:
| Burnett replied in the affirmative whe
f | asked if she intended to write a Sc
: quel to "Lord Fauntleroy," and pic
, ture her boy in adult life. She is de
S votedly fond of her children, an
: seems to be a careful housewife, if on
: may judge by the outward signs of a
l orderly and charming home"
"And will you remain permanent
S in Washington"
"This is my home" she replied sin
e ply, 81 hope to need no further chang
e except in summer"
n Mrs. Burnett looks young and is no
c "a years of age. She has naturally